FALLSCHIRMJAGER LIGHTWEIGHT Y STRAPS
FJ's were issued a lightweight version of the standard Heer/Army Y strap, which did not have the split front like the Army/Heer version. The Y strap attached to the waist belt and helped support its weight from the equipment attached. The equipment attached are: ammo pouches or bandolier, canteen, bread bag, mess kit, zeltbahn quarter, side arm, and bayonet
AMMUNITION POUCHES, PISTOL HOLSTERS, BANDOLIERS
Ammo pouches came in multiple styles, and colors for all the different weapons issued to the soldiers. The standard K98 pouches in the first photo were issued to all soldiers in all branches. It has two pouches, one for each side of the belt, and it held 60 total rounds. The FJ bandolier in the next two photos were specific to the FJ, and it was worn around the neck and attached to the Y strap and waist belt. It held a total of 100 rounds, and it was produced in a wide variety of colors and camouflage patterns. The fourth pouch was produced for the semi automatic G43, which used a 10 round box magazine, the pouches held two magazines. The fifth photo shows the pouches for the full auto MP40 which uses a 32 round stick magazine, and the pouches held 6 magazines. The next photo shows a tan/tropical pouch set for the select fire(semi auto or full auto) MP44/STG44, which uses a 30 round curved magazine, these pouches also held 6 magazines. The last photo shown an example of a hard shell holster for the P08 Walther, the P08 Luger used a similar holster. The holster also had a built in side pouch for a spare magazine. These examples are a small variety of what was actually produced during the war, and these were the common types/patterns used by the Fallschirmjager.
ADDITIONAL FJ FIELD GEAR
The above listed photos are the typical gear that FJ's would usually carry in the field. Starting with the first photo, top left: mess kit, bread bag, bayonet with frog(leather holder), canteen, shovel with carrier, zeltbahn quarter(tent quarter), zeltbahn rolled up, FJ gas mask bag, and FJ gauntlet gloves.
WEAPONS USED BY THE FALLSCHIRMJAGER
Name: Mauser K98, Caliber: 7.92mm (8mm), Length: 43.6 inches, Weight: 9lbs
Maximum Range: 1200 meters, Feed System: 5 round integral box magazine, Rate of fire: 15rpm
Every soldier who fought for Germany in the Second World War trained with this rifle. In fact for many this was their only weapon throughout the war. The K98k could also be used as a sniper rifle when a ZF41 2.5x Scope or a ZF42 5x scope was attached.
Name: K43/G43, Caliber: 7.92mm, Length: 45 inches ,Weight: 10lbs 4oz.Maximum Range: 1200 meters, Feed System: 10 Round Detachable Magazine, Rate of fire: 50rpm
The entire undertaking of making the weapon was justified by the fact that existing rifles were too slow, and a new self-loading rifle might be able increase the amount of fire directed towards the enemy while not costing a lot more. The G43/GK43 was intended for the role of sharpshooting, which it did quite effectively, even though it did not reach its full foreseen potential as the new infantryman's weapon
Name: Luger P08(model 1908, The 1 lb./14 oz. handgun was first issued in WWI and retained during the Wehrmacht's expansion due to weapons shortages. The P08 chambered a 9mm round from a detachable 8 round magazine. The system of operation revolved around a recoil and toggle joint. Although preferred by officers, the P08 did not prove to be reliable under combat conditions and was replaced by the Walther P38. The overall length of the barrel is 4 1/2 inches, and weighs 2 pounds. It's effective combat range is around 32 yards.
Name: Walther P38(model 1938) In 1938, the Wehrmacht had begun to adopt the P38 as a replacement to the P08. It weighs 2 lbs./1.5 oz. and has a 8 round detachable magazine. Double action capability is due to its recoil operating system. The P38 was well accepted by the Wehrmacht, Luftwaffe, and Waffen-SS due to its ability to operate in all types of adverse conditions. The P38 chambered a 9mm round. The overall length of the barrel is 4 3/4 inches. It's overall effective range was comparable to the P08.
Name: MP40, Caliber: 9mm, Length: 33.5 inches ,Weight: 9lbs
Maximum Range: 300 meters, Feed System: 32 Round Detachable Magazine, Rate of fire: 400-500rpm
As late as 1940 in the Western campaign there were only 3 machine pistols per company of troops. It was very economical in the fact that it was made almost entirely of stamped parts, which were easy to produce and perfect for wartime conditions. It was also very effective for close range fighting, because of its rapid rate of fire. The MP40 was produced in huge numbers up until the fall of the Reich, as it was an extremely simple and effective weapon.
Name: MP4344, Caliber: 7.92mm, Length: 37 inches, Weight: 11lbs
Maximum Range: 800 meters, Feed System: 30 Round Detachable Magazine, Rate of fire: 500rpm
The MP44 was the first assault rifle ever made, of a field which is now a very potent part of any armies firepower. With all its abilities combined it could basically replace machine guns. Its ammunition had a perfect balance between penetration power and recoil. It could handle most battle ranges while being moderately easy to hold on target for short bursts. It could fire single shots, or full automatic. The full automatic was especially valuable as soldiers knew that, whether they were attacking or defending, they could bring a large amount of fire on a target in a short time.
Name: MG34, Caliber: 7.92mm, Length: 48 inches, Weight: 26.5lbs
Maximum Range: 800 meters, Feed System: Belt or Drum Fed, Rate of fire: 900rpm
The MG34 is still regarded as one of the best machine-gun designs ever. An infantry squad could carry the gun and fire it from a bipod or on a heavier tripod for continuous fire for a long time. Two types of feed could be used: from a belt feed or the saddle-drum magazine housing 75 rounds. In addition to all these features, the MG 34 was capable of a high rate of fire and thus effective against low-flying aircraft. The MG 34 was an immediate and enormous success and put directly into production for all the different branches and auxiliaries of the German armed forces. Right until the end of the war the demand for the MG 34 stood high, and production frequently failed to meet the demand.
Name:MG42, Caliber: 7.92mm, Length: 49 inches , Weight: 24lbs.
Maximum Range: 800 meters, Feed System: 50 Round Belt, Rate of fire: 1200rpm
The MG42 was meant as a more efficient replacement to the expensive and hard to produce MG34. The designers at Mauser were confident in the stamped metal technique used for the MP40, and decided that this extremely efficient and cost effective technique should be employed to its fullest on their new machinegun. The MG42 was marginally lighter, fired faster, had an easy to remove barrel (for when the gun barrel overheated), and most importantly, was much more cost effective and easier to produce than the MG34. The MG42 was used on all fronts, and was used in great numbers. If allied troops mentioned their biggest fears, the MG42 would be at the top of the list. Because of the extremely high rounds per minute rating of the MG42, its gunners were trained to fire in short one second bursts so as to increase accuracy and lower the amount of rounds used
Name: FG42, Caliber: 7.92mm, Length: 35 inches, Weight: 9lbs.
Maximum Range: 600 meters, Feed System: 20 Round Detachable Magazine, Rate of fire: 600 rpm
It was an advanced weapon for its time and could either be used in the semi automatic or fully automatic modes. It was manufactured by Rheinmettel-Borsig AG and came into service in September 1943 and was first used in the Gran Sasso raid to rescue Mussolini. Its final production number was only around 6000 as production had started on the new MP44 assault rifle, which took manufacturing precedence. Spare magazines were carried by the gunner in specially made ammunition bandoleers which were worn around the neck and attached to the mans belt. Its small size and light weight made it an ideal weapon to be used as an LMG or automatic rifle and was not as cumbersome to man handle as the MG-34/42.
